Step-by-Step: A Chicago Bulls tanking guide
Rajon Rondo, waive or trade, whatever it takes
This one is much trickier. Rondo doesn’t seem to carry much value as a point guard anymore. Allow me to clarify, he doesn’t have much value as a starting point guard anymore. Despite the dysfunction in Chicago right now, he’s proven to be a capable backup.
Rondo’s contract is only partially guaranteed for next season, but the Bulls needs to move on now. He’s not the answer and will not be part of next year’s team. If he continues to perform over the next couple of weeks, they might be able to pull a second-round draft pick or some other kind of expiring from another squad.
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If that doesn’t work, they can always hold on until after March 1, to make sure that anyone who wouldn’t play ball with them at the trade deadline can’t get any use out of Rondo when the playoffs arrive. Similar to what it appears the Miami Heat are looking to do with Chris Bosh.
They should probably go ahead and waive Rondo at that time, but again, he’s got elite passing and made quite the statement over the past few days in Chicago. Somehow, one of the least liked players has transformed himself into a team player and the people’s champ, as Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation put it, he has don’t the unthinkable and made the Bulls franchise feel shame. Impressive.
Keep in mind, these are steps. If Taj is already out the door, it’s time to see if you can’t squeeze something out any team that would like to have Rondo as their backup point guard for the post season. His salary is going to be a sticking point with any move the team could try to make. You can thank Forman and Paxson for that albatross of a contract.